Genres

Platforms

Moods

1. TRUE DETECTIVE - For my money, this was THE entertainment experience of the year. More than any other film or television program, it was able to successfully play in all four quadrants of New York's famed Approval Matrix, and inspired many of us rabid devotees to go down the Internet rabbit hole (Reddit, YouTube, Wikipedia). Plus, Reggie LeDoux still gives us nightmares. [Watch True Detective on HBO Go.]

Screenshot: HBO

2. UNDER THE SKIN - Fascinating yet frustrating. Gorgeous yet glum. Poignant yet perplexing. It's been a long while since a film has inspired so many conflicting feelings in me, which is why I become more and more fond of the film with each viewing. (Plus, ScarJo is easy on the eyes, so hey...) [Watch Under The Skin on Amazon Prime.]

Screenshot: Amazon Prime

3. FARGO - Neck and neck with 'True Detective' as the best show of the year, our own Olivia Armstrong recently wrote a great piece about how she felt that the $25.99 she spent to buy a season pass of the show was one of the best investments she made all year. And Olivia watches WAY more TV than most of us, so you should definitely take her word for it. Two words for you: Lorne Malvo. [Watch Fargo on Amazon Instant Video.]

Photo: Everett Collection

4. BILL HADER ON SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE - I could make a very strong argument that Hader is the best castmember in 'SNL' history, so why not relive his glorious hosting appearance from October of 2014 over and over. Start with the "Puppet Class" sketch. Just trust us. [Watch SNL on Hulu Plus.]

Screenshot: Hulu

5. THE IMMIGRANT - We're not usually the type of site that points fingers, but SOMEONE really botched the release of this truly spectacular movie from director James Gray. Oscar winner Marion Cotillaird stars as a Polish immigrant who travels to New York City in 1921, where she meets the seemingly well-intentioned (at first) Joaquin Phoenix. Cinema does not get much more powerful than this. [Watch The Immigrant on Netflix.]

Photo: Everett Collection

6. KEY AND PEELE - Comedy Central is one of the best old school cable networks at harnessing the power of YouTube, which is how we watched most of this season of the award-winning sketch show. [Watch Key and Peele on YouTube.]

Screenshot: YouTube

7. HOUSE OF CARDS - The second season of the Netflix powerhouse had a lot to live up to, considering the high bar that S1 set. From the very get-go of season 2, though, the creators made sure the show started off with a bang (or, some would say, a push). Essential viewing! [Watch House Of Cards on Netflix.]

Photo: Everett Collection

8. BROAD CITY - There's no time like the present to catch up on the fan-freaking-tastic freshman series from Comedy Central. Ilana and Abby play millenial BFFs who often find themselves in the midst of some straight up wackiness, thanks in no small part to the epic amount of weed they smoke. [Watch Broad City on Amazon Prime.]

Photo: Everett Collection

9. TRANSPARENT - This groundbreaking show from Amazon Studios might very well be the surprise winner for Best Show at the 2015 Golden Globes next month, so get on board now. It's one of the most inspiring (and also heartcrushing) series of recent memory. [Watch Transparent on Amazon Prime.]

Photo: Everett Collection

10. PEAKY BLINDERS - This Netflix original was one of the year's best surprises, as two seasons consisting of 6 episodes each landed on the streaming giant this fall. The show defies easy plot summation, but let's just say if you like gang dramas, a bit of the ole ultraviolence and blues-driven rock music, this will be your favorite binge-watch in FOREVER. [Watch Peaky Blinders on Netflix.]

Photo: Everett Collection

11. TOO MANY COOKS - Yes, we're still singing that damn theme song from the viral video smash of the year. There's a lot to parse in this Adult Swim fever nightmare, so make sure you watch it a few times. [Watch "Too Many Cooks" on YouTube.]

Screenshot: YouTube

12. ENEMY - This is the second film that pairs up the electric Jake Gyllenhaal with director Denis Villeneuve; the other was the gut-wrenching and totally underrated Prisoners. The less you know about this mindfuck of a movie the better, but let's just say that this film gives new meaning to the phrase The Two Jakes. [Watch Enemy on Amazon Prime.]

Photo: Everett Collection

13. THE SACRAMENT - Cults are my greatest fear, so this fictionalized, found footage treatment of a Jonestown-like setting is gripping in a way that few other films of the last few years have managed to achieve. If there were any justice in Hollywood, Gene Jones would get an Oscar nomination for his frightening portrayal of the cult's leader, Father. [Watch The Sacrament on Netflix.]